The Mr Science Show
I have started a new podcast called - I'd love you to have a listen and tell me what you think! Mr Science Show is not gone though, it will continue to exist and I will continue to put up material. The Pod is about ocean swimming - there is more to ocean swimming than swimming in the ocean - and will cover a whole spectrum of topics. It is likely to be a very sciencey show! So here's episode one, which is a science-based episode on flesh-eating sea lice! For more information, check out the .
info_outline Birthday mathsThe Mr Science Show
A few weeks back, I had a great chat about birthday mathematics with Glynn Greensmith on the show on ABC Radio. It was great! We discussed how when you are born in the year influences your latter life, some counter-intuitive probabilities regarding shared birthdays, a bit of astrology and whatever else popped into our heads. Audio courtesy of the ABC.
info_outline Ep 162: Pulsating PulsesThe Mr Science Show
2016 is the , which aims to heighten public awareness of the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition. I spoke to from the about his research into pulses, including genetic resistance to heat waves and climate change, plant physiology and genetics, crop modelling and why he is known throughout the University as "The Hot Scientist". Songs in this episode (all Creative Commons ): by Future Boy; by George_Ellinas; by AudioLogic; by Pitx; by Psychadelik Pedestrian; by Wired Ant
info_outline Ep 161: 2016 Pulses and PulsarsThe Mr Science Show
Happy 2016! This week, I spoke on about some of the science we can expect in 2016: ...
info_outline Ep 160: 2015 The year of lightThe Mr Science Show
2015 was a magnificent year for physics. Not only was it the , it was an outstanding year of astronomical achievement, culminating with the magnificent . It was also 100 years since the was published, and 50 years since the was discovered. Australia also broke a couple of astronomical world records: , and in a . One of the organisers of this world record was Tom Gordon, a science communicator at who runs (), which are physics workshops aimed at year 12 science students and teachers. Tom, along with Christie McMonigal and Shane Hengst, runs the , chatting about science communication and...
info_outline Ep 159: Wedding cost, marriage success and catsThe Mr Science Show
From a recent chat with , this week we talk:
info_outline Ep 157: Food science with ABC RadioThe Mr Science Show
Every month I chat with and the science topics of the day, and this week we chatted food, in particular:
info_outline Ep 157: Where to now for Cold Fusion?The Mr Science Show
Do you remember ? Remember when electrochemists and claimed to have achieved on a table in their lab in Utah? That was so 80s! Cold Fusion was quickly debunked and, apart from its appearance in a 1997 Val Kilmer Movie (), most people forgot about it. So it may surprise you to hear that Cold Fusion research continues to this day, with some “interesting” participants and some extraordinary and surprisingly persistent claims. The most recent (ICCF-19) was the largest yet reflecting a climate of renewed interest. ...
info_outline Ep 156: Science for kids - home-made lava-lampThe Mr Science Show
This Christmas break, I have been mucking around with science experiments for my kids. Here is the first of a few easy experiments you can try at home. The following video shows you how to make a home-made lava lamp. It is very simple - grab a cup (or bottle or vase or flask), fill it about a third full of water and two thirds full of oil. The oil floats on the water as it has a lower density. Add some food colouring (you can do this at the start directly to the water, or after you have added the oil - this has the added benefit of showing you that the food colouring does not dissolve in the...
info_outline Ep 155: Fact or Fiction with ANSTOThe Mr Science Show
The undertakes research and development in nuclear science and technology. This has wide application including nuclear medicine, atmospheric monitoring, materials engineering, neutron scattering and climate change research....
info_outlineIt's an Australian tradition on ANZAC Day to take yourself down to your local pub and play Two-up - an Aussie gambling game in which you toss two coins in the air and bet on the outcome.
In this edition I have a chat to Chris Coleman of ABC Riverina about the maths behind two-up. For a longer read, check out our 2009 article on the topic.